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Heavy consumption of diet soda can damage teeth as badly as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, a new study contends.More >> Heavy consumption of diet soda can damage teeth as badly as methamphetamine or crack cocaine, a new study contends.More >> Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.More >> Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.More >> Kids who eat fast food at least twice a week are 50 percent less likely to use calorie and nutritional information than kids who eat fast food less often.More >> Kids who eat fast food at least twice a week are 50 percent less likely to use calorie and nutritional information than kids who eat fast food less often.More >> The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.More >> The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.More >> In the aftermath of this week's deadly tornado, many people in Oklahoma are not only struggling to care for children and relatives, but also their pets.More >> In the aftermath of this week's deadly tornado, many people in Oklahoma are not only struggling to care for children and relatives, but also their pets.More >>
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Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.More >> Teen birth rates in the United States are dropping sharply, especially among Hispanic teens, according to a new government report.More >> The overall health of Americans isn't improving much, with about six in 10 people either overweight or obese and large numbers engaging in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking or not exercising.More >> The overall health of Americans isn't improving much, with about six in 10 people either overweight or obese and large numbers engaging in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, heavy drinking or not exercising.More >> When a classmate commits suicide, teens are more likely to consider or attempt suicide themselves, according to a new study. More >> When a classmate commits suicide, teens are more likely to consider or attempt suicide themselves, according to a new study. More >> Pregnant women with specific alterations in two genes may be at increased risk of suffering depression after giving birth, a small new study suggests.More >> Pregnant women with specific alterations in two genes may be at increased risk of suffering depression after giving birth, a small new study suggests.More >> Although spring arrived late this year in parts of the United States, the summer allergy season will still be strong, according to a sinus expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.More >> Although spring arrived late this year in parts of the United States, the summer allergy season will still be strong, according to a sinus expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.More >>
by Michelle Mortensen
Bill Graves has Type 2 diabetes and recently learned, because of his age, his diabetes puts him at a higher risk for memory loss.
"I had no idea that Type 2 diabetes could affect your memory loss. That is great information and just another reason why it is very very important for me to stick to my diet, taking my medication, and getting plenty of exercise," says Graves.
A new study shows people with Type 2 diabetes are up to two times as likely to experience cognitive dysfunction. The study focused on diabetics between ages 45 and 70. The participants were given a series of memory tests and a combination of drugs.
"We found that treatment with Avandia and Metformin was associated with a 30% improvement on a very challenging test of working memory," says Dr. Ryan.
According to Dr. Christopher Ryan, this finding is significant for patients and doctors because in 2001, 42% of the diabetic population in the U.S. was 65 years of age or older. This proportion is expected to increase to 53% by 2025 and to 58% by 2050. As the diabetic population ages, they become twice as likely to experience cognitive decline.
"I'm excited about our study because our study suggests [that] if you can get your blood sugar levels to close to the normal range as possible, you can improve your ability to remember things and multi-task," says Dr. Ryan.
Bill Graves says he's taking the information to heart.
"I want to be able to do things and memory is very important to living an active life as I have been," he says.
